Happy Spring!

I just wanted to say hi and wish everybody a Happy Spring! I love this time of year and wish it would last! It still isn't too hot and the flowers are blooming. It's so beautiful now. I call this new piece, Spring Breeze Forever.

IT FROZE IN TEXAS!!!!!

TEXAS SNOWMAN

with it's Artist

HUGE NEWS!!!

IT FROZE IN TEXAS!!!!

YUP!!! They even kept turning off the electricity all over the city because of the added heat. Businesses were closed. Freezing!!! Ok, I'm not sure, but supposedly last night there were snow flurries and ice on the roads. I don't know because I was asleep and didn't watch the news. Although I do know it was 30 degrees during the day. Well, my friend sent me a few pictures of the snow in San Antonio which is a 3 hour or so drive from Houston and I thought this one was so cute, I had to share it. I know, people up North and where ever it really snows are laughing at us.

This snow biz got me to at least post after a very long time. Maybe I'll catch up with yall later and tell yall what's been going on in my life.

Hugs to yall peeps and to those with pets, hugs for them too!!!

Linda :)

MY ART, my love...

I have found another outstanding artist on Etsy from Thailand. He has so many subject matters and styles with his watercolors, acrylics, and oil.... I am overwhelmed. Now yall try to pick out one print to buy! I dare ya :) The more you look into these paintings a deep soul seems to grab out at you and you want to know more about the artist behind this art. Please visit http://www.indiesmiles.com/art-my-love/#comments for more information and please leave a comment there under the article! You won't be disappointed! View this slide show full screened too!

Junebugs

The artist: Linda Silverthorne


The article: Http://www.indiesmiles.com/junebugs/

Please leave comments there too!


The shop: http://lindasilverthorne.etsy.com/


THE ART YALL MUST SEE!!!

A Luscious Splash of Autumn's Rainbow!

Hi yall!
I just published a new article on Indiesmiles! It's all about Autumn's luscious colors. The slide show of Etsy Artists are breathtaking! Some are photos and some are paintings! Yet some of the paintings look like photographs. You'll have to visit their shops in case you just aren't sure! I really would love comments! Tell your friends to check it out and leave comments that love Autumn! If you love Autumn's colors, you will love this slide show! It's so... beautiful! Also remember to view it full screen! I'd even play some nice music while you watch it. I wish I was allowed to put music to my slide shows. I think music adds so much! Don't yall?
Here's the link:
http://www.indiesmiles.com/a-luscious-splash-of-autumns-rainbow/

Man Built a Sanctuary for Homeless Cats!

I found this e-mail so endearing and wonderful, I wanted to share it with yall!

Craig Grant bought a tree farm far away from the city and turned it into a sanctuary for all the cats he has rescued.
He lives there with the cats and provides lots of love, care and companionship. It’s hard to imagine that once he was not a cat lover and did not want cats until he met his son’s cat Pepper. He also got to experience what it is like raising a litter of kittens.
“Over that time I learned that every cat had its own unique personality and it wasn’t long before the kittens were swinging from my curtains. I didn’t care. Something had changed… I didn’t want to give them up.”
The condo life was not easy for the kitties, so Craig found a tree farm and settled down there for his fur babies.
Over the next several months, he rescued more and more homeless and abandoned cats. The number of new residents kept going up, so Craig expanded the sanctuary to make more room for the animals.

The farm was named Caboodle Ranch and is now a permanent home for all the homeless, rescued cats. Each of them has a sad story of their past, but now they are living in heaven.
“Cats should be able to roam free, and at Caboodle Ranch, that’s what they do.”
Craig has built many beautiful cat houses and decorated the place with vibrant colors and tons of liveliness. All the cats are spayed and neutered.

Isn't this every cat lover's dream!

And as far as I know, he is located in Florida on 30 acres with 500 cats!

God Bless this Man!
Here's a website to see much more!
www.caboodleranch.com

Fall in Love With Autumn Wreaths!

Hi yall! Indiesmiles just published my Fall Wreath article! Yall should go see it!I learned a lot just researching history about Wreaths that I found quite fascinating. But I could only choose a small part of history about them. The Fall wreaths I picked for my slide video show are awesome wreaths that not only hang on the wall or door, but there are also gorgeous wreaths worn in your hair!
The more comments I get the better on the article's comment page. As yall know, I am so...anxious for at least one cool breeze here in the heat of Houston, and besides Fall starts on the 23th of September, that is if my calendar is correct!
I hope to see your comments there!!! Link: http://www.indiesmiles.com/fall-in-love-with-autumn-wreaths/#comments

Also remember the ASPCA contest! http://lindagjones.blogspot.com/2010/09/contest-andor-charity-birthday-bash.html#comments

I suppose yall will have to copy and paste these links to your main search on the top left.

I truly wish I had the time to visit yall's wonderful blogs!
I started to produce art again, but I am so busy with other things as well, that I'm not making great progress!
I hope yall are having fun on this Labor Day Weekend!

Linda :)

Contest and/or Charity Birthday Bash!

http://www.indiesmiles.com/charity-birthday-bash/ This link will lead you to the right page for all the information.
This is just one item I plan on entering into the handmade art contest for 5.00! I'm so proud to say that Indiesmiles is have a 0ne year Birthday Bash and by celebrating we are having a fundraiser of all the money going towards the ASPCA!!!
The Handmade Contest
http://www.indiesmiles.com/charity-birthday-bash/best-handmade-pic/This link will only lead you to the Art Contest, but is also on the main link at the top that I added.
You may enter $5.00 alone, and or enter a picture of your pet for the Pet contest to win prizes, or you could chose to enter a photo of your handmade item in the Art contest. Each 5.00 will give you the chance to enter as many pictures you would like and I just noticed you may also leave your shop or blogsite in, and when a person clicks on your picture it will show all your details! Here is another art item I will be entering: I am working on changing my Kenzie photo to a better size when enlarged, because I made it too small and so when it's enlarged it looks too grainy, plus I would like to edit my comments. So please make sure you are totally satisfied before entering as I have a way in, since I am a columnist there. Hey, by the way to vote is for free!!! I want to also add my belated kitty Peanut that lived to be 20 years old because I actually got her at the ASPCA.The Pet Contest http://www.indiesmiles.com/charity-birthday-bash/best-pet-pic/ (This link will only lead you to the Pet Contest but is also listed on the main link I added at the top.) I know for a fact that they are a great place although they have too many animals and are in desperate need of help and adoptions. I got Peanut and her brother that passed away when he was 11 yrs old. I miss them both terribly, but you pet lovers know about that. Kenzie was brought into my life and we fell in love as yall know.
So, this is a great way to give to a wonderful cause, and also, if you want to add your pic or pics to the Pet and/or Handmade pic for fabulous prizes if you get the most votes.
If you are strapped for 5.00, at least come vote for one or all of my pics!!!

Hope yall's summer is not ending like mine, where it's still in the 90's!!! I sure am looking forward to a cool breeze....at least one!That may take some time though. I hear we may be having a cool front this weekend. Uppers in the 90's and at night in the 70's. Ummm....ok..?
Linda :)

What a Doll!

I just wrote a new article with fabulous handmade dolls and patterns of a lot of different creations in doll land on www.Indiesmiles.com I sure would love for yall to visit it and since we are having a contest with whoever gets the most comments wins the prize!
This is the link:
http://www.indiesmiles.com/what-a-doll/

It sure has been awhile since I have the time to visit my own blog as well as others. Has been a strange couple of months with everything breaking down including ...it seems that my computer needs a new hard drive! Geesh. When it rains, it pours it seems. Even my toilet overflowed today. I used every single towel I own to sop it up .............................. and now I don't have time to wash them as I need to go to a Houston Artisan Team meeting shortly! Ok, this is getting a little out of "money in my pocket" hand. I will wait until it is absolutely necessary to get my computer fixed as it will cost another fortune!!! At least Kenzie, my precious cat daughter is doing fine
and my ballroom dance classes are doing fine, making my body better, although I do still have a lot of pain, there are days now that I don't have any pain and I still go to dance class with pain! I just force myself through it and usually my body seems to get centered and after the class I am in no pain a lot of the times. I wake up the next day and am in a normal person's muscle pain, not fibro pain. There IS a difference! I am getting stronger and LOVE IT!!!! It's way fun, although I do look kinda weird in my jazz ballet shoes while every other gal is wearing their high heels. How do they do it? I have to wear my foot and hand braces. Oh! I was at a ballroom dance the other night and they were selling dance clothes and trimms. I got a skirt to die for! It looks right out of the 40's although Scarlet Ohara from the movie "Gone With the Wind" must have worn it. It only cost me $10.00! I will fix it to fit me as it is a bit too small and I also want it a little more hip hugger. I have a thing with clothes being exactly around my waist. The dress is made out of layers of chiffon! It's divine and so.. my taste! Well, and last but not least, I sold a new piece and it is available, kinda like a customized item in my Etsy, Http://LindaGJ.Etsy.com and here it is!
Here's wishing yall a wonderful week!
Linda :)

An Artist Beach Babe!

It's still in the 100's here, so it's still very much the summer, as people elsewhere are getting ready for fall and I'm still in the beach mode! Well, I was so lucky to find out about this wonderful artist and also I purchased one of her limited prints of this one, along with some other smaller print goodies that I will cherish forever. She even did a darling sketch of a gal surfing a wave on the carboard envelope that she sent the print in, that I want to frame as well! How cheerful this one is, so colorful, I adore the hats as well as the friends hanging out together at the beach! Well I approached the artist and she let me write an article about her! You will find her so fascinating and there is so much going on being her story and what she is also doing now! Please visit the article, and browse away. Please also leave a comment , since I am sending yall to the comment section link where you put your comments and you'll need to scroll up to see the article, a video slide, and a few of her links that can not be missed! *Sorry about the stupid pop up this slide video maker is now putting up..they gotta make money, but all you have to do is click on the far right top corner and click on the black x to get rid of it) I'm looking into finding another free video maker.. very frustrating! :( *

Here is the link: http://www.indiesmiles.com/an-artist-beach-babe/#respond

Thank you and hope yall are having a beautiful "beach kinda day"!

Linda :)

Another Announcement About MY Pet Swap Partner!

http://earlybird454.etsy.com/
** Your pet could be the next TOP MODEL in Tammy's Etsy Boutique!!! My Kenzie is!!!**
Tammy is offering FREE SHIPPING on your NEXT purchase, for Appreciation photos sent with permission to use your pet's photo as a model in her boutique.
She lists P.I.F. (pay it forward) items randomly. That means, for ONLY the .20 listing fee (which
Etsy requires), you can sample Tammy's wares.
*PLEASE, ON THE HONOR SYSTEM, ONLY (1) PIF ITEM PER CUSTOMER*
Tammy is a member of:
*Etsy Texas Crafters (ETC) Team
* Dachshund Team
*Etsy for Animals (EFA) http://www.efaartistshelpinganimals.org/

This gal has so much much to offer us animal lovers that I feel so honored to be featuring her here on my Blog!!!

Texas Etsy Crafters Pet Gift Swap!

Above are a couple of pictures that my Pet Swap Buddy got from me!

A few days ago I did a swap on on of my teams called Etsy Texas Crafters and the theme was Pets! I just had to share with you what my wonderful swap partner sent to me!!! Her shop is http://earlybird454.etsy.com/ and one of the items she makes and sells are little caps and bandanas in all sizes for all kinds of pups! Too cute! I just had to have her make me one to give to my Dear jewelry artist friend, Pam from http://serendipityrose.etsy.com/ that has a miniature dachshund named Carly who I have shown yall when she was a puppy a while ago.

TOO CUTE FOR WORDS!!!

Well Tammy, from earlybird also asked me for a picture of my cat, Kenzie!

Who knew that she would take Kenzie's face and transfer it to fabric and make me this adorable Kenzie doll along with a darling little brown mouse with a bell in it and a place to put cat nip in it!

I saw that Kenzie was tearing up the mouse, so the mouse is the doll's mouse now!
I have one more example of a dachshund that Tammy made a doll out of!!! Any pet lover would LOVE this, I think, and also it would make a fabulous gift for a friend! Please go check out this wonderful shop and see what Tammy has to offer! Yall will not be disappointed!

Day Dreamin'

Hi yall,
My latest article is published and it's really fun. I think yall would really enjoy it! Please join me in my Day Dream. Here is the link: http://www.Indiesmiles.com/let-your-imagination-soar/#respond This will take you to the comment section where you will see where you make your comments and then you can scroll up to read and see the article. You will also see so many awesome artist's works!
Thanks for visiting there and making a comment!
Have a fabulous week!
Linda :)

Brutus needs a Forever Home !!!

"This is a very sad, but unfortunately it happens all too often" Kelly

Brutus was rescued on July 1st, 2010. He is about 60 lbs, 10 to 20 lbs. underweight.

He's 1 1/2 yrs. old.

He was kept in a crate 24 hrs a day & fed every 2 days. He now has received all of his shots and clear of heartworm & everything looks good. We also bought him a 6 month supply of heart guard and frontline. In the last 5 days he is potty trained & on schedule. He caught on fast because he is very smart! He's not good with other animals, but he loves to lay around & hide bones in the yard. He is great on a leash and loves to walk. He loves to hang out on the back porch and he loves kisses & hugs & prefers to be around people. He is on the waiting list with Animal Friends to be neutered.

Please let me know if you have any questions at 412-580-5400

Jamie Kokales

If you know of anyone that would love to give this darling dog a forever home, please call Jamie and also let me know. Please send this to all your friends as well!

Thank you so much!

Linda :)

PS: I don't know why my comment section for this post has such a long space!